Table



T; E. McFALL Feb. 17, 1942.

TABLE Filed Feb. 12, 1940 I Thmkw WE Patented Feb. 17, 1942 TABLE Thurlow E. McFall, Sparta, Mich., assignor to Michigan Artcraft Company, Sparta, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application February 12, 1940, Serial No. 318,579

5 Claims.

This invention relates to tables and is particularly directed to a. table of the adjustable type wherein the top thereof can be adjusted to any desirable height from the floor for use for a number of different purposes and held in any position to which adjusted.

The invention is directed to a table which may be used, for example, in its lowermost position as a coffee table. If it is then desired to use it as an end table or lamp table, the top thereof may be elevated to the desired height for this use. Then, if it is desired that the table be used as a bridge table or dining table, the top thereof may be elevated still higher and held in that position. According to my invention, the top of the table may also be adjusted and held to any desired height between the topmost and lowermost positions thereof. While I have chosen to disclose my invention with particular regard to an extension table, it is to. be understood that tables of the non-extensible type may be used equally as well, the specific invention herein being directed more particularly to th means by which the table top may be adjusted to various heights and held in any position to which adjusted.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and following description set forth in detail certain means and two of the modes for carrying out my invention said means constituting however, but a few of the various ways in which the principle of my invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an under plan view of the table top showing the base portion thereof in section and taken substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through the table and the base member thereof showing the top in elevated position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken laterally of the table showing the top thereof in its lowermost position.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through the base member showing a modification of my invention, and

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken on a horizontal plane through the disclosure in Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the table and the supports therefor may be of the usual type consisting of a plurality of outwardly extending legs I which have their inner ends secured to a vertical base member 2.

The top of the table in the present instance is composed of the two sections 3, but it will be understood that in the case of a non-extensible table the top thereof will be composed of a single member. Spaced inwardly from the edges of the top members at the underside thereof and extending vertically downwardly therefrom are secured the side members or aprons 4.

In the case of an extensible table of the type shown, lying adjacentthe inner sides of the end aprons 4 and secured to one of the top members 3 are the outermost of the stationary slide members 5. The inner slide members 6 are spaced inwardly from the outer members 5 and are secured to the other ,of the top members 3. Located between the outer and inner members 5 and 6 and slidably connected therewith and with each other ar the extension members I which permit the extension of the table in the usual manner.

Extending longitudinally of the table underneath the top thereof is an elongated supporting member 8 having each end thereof secured to the underside of. the extension member I which lies at the center of each set. This insures the centering of the legs I and the base member 2 with respect to the top of the table.

The member 8 at substantially the center thereof is provided withan opening 9 which extends vertically therethrough. At the upper side of the member 8 and between it and the top 3 a disk It) is secured provided at the center thereof with the upwardlyand downwardly extending bearing members I I, the lower one of which is adapted to be received in the opening 9 in the supporting member 8, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bearings, Hare adapted to receive therein an elongated downwardly extending rod l2 which is secured and held within said bearings, for example, by means of the pin I3.

The lower end of the rod [2 is provided with a hollow supporting member l4 within which the lower end of the rod is received. The supporting member l4 being secured to the lower end of the rod l2 such as by welding or any other desired means. The upper end of the supporting member 14 is tapered inwardly therearound for a purpose which will be more fully described hereinafter. The lower end of the member I4 is provided with inwardly bent and tapered portions l at diametrically opposed points thereof, while the portions of the lower end thereof which remain outwardly arcuate as at 16, are provided with the recess I 1 adapted to receive therein the stop members whereby the top of the table is prevented from being rotated and lowered.

The lower base member 2 is provided with a vertical opening 2a throughout the length thereof of a diameter to slidably receive the rod 2 with the supporting member l4 thereof secured thereto. Vertically spaced throughout the length of the vertical opening 2a in the base member 2 are the spring actuated stop members I8 which are received in openings l9 provided for that purpose within the said opening 2a.

The openings I 9 are provided with shoulders therein which prevent the outward movement of the stop means l3 by having the base member 20 thereof bear thereagainst. A compression spring 2| is located within the openings l9 having one end bearing against the base of the opening and the other end bearing against the base 23 of the stop member 13 thereby forcing said member outwardly to protrude into the vertical opening of the base member 2.

If it is then desired that the top of the table be raised from a lower position, the tapered upper end of the supporting member I4 will automatically force the stop members It inwardly against the compression of the springs 2| as it is moved upwardly, and when the desired height has been reached, one of the recesses I! will receive the protruding end of the next lowermost stop member l3 to thereby prevent the top from being lowered. When it is desired to lower the top, the rod I 2 together with its supporting member i4 is raised slightly to remove the stop member l3 from the recess [1. The top is then rotated through 90 where the inwardly bent portions l5 of the member M are in alinement with the stop members Hi. This portion of the member l4 being bent and taper-ed in this manner will clear each of the stop members IS in its downward movement and the remainder of the bottom portion being bent outwardly, as shown in Fig, 3, the stop members will be easily forced inwardly to permit the passage of said member l4 during the lowering of the table top.

The recesses I 1 are placed at both sides of the member l4 so that they will be effective either in the position of a table top shown in Fig, 1 or in the position thereof after it has been rotated 180. Although it is not necessary, the stop members l8 may also be placed at diametrically opposed points throughout the length of the opening 2a in the member 2.

While the appearance of the table presents no diihculty in its lowermost position, it is evident that some suitable means for covering up I telescoping member 23 is located and is secured thereto such as by a plurality of tacks 24. The lower edge of the member 23 is flanged inwardly as at and is provided immediately thereabove with a packing ring 26. The next lowermost telescoping member Zl, which fits Within the upper member 23, has at the upper end thereof an outwardly turned flange 28 which is provided therebelow and between the inner side of the telescoping member 23 and the outer side of the telescoping member 21 with a similar packing ring 29 so that in its extended position, the two packing rings 26 and 28 will be in contact with each other.

In some tables it may be necessary only to provide two telescoping members such as I have described above. If it is desired that the table top be permitted to be elevated still higher, a greater number of these telescoping parts may become necessary. For purposes of illustration I have preferred to show three of such members, the third and lowermost one here being indicated by the numeral 38 which also has at its upper edge an outwardly turned flange 3! provided with a similar packing ring 32 between the outer side of the member and the inner side of th member 21. Also, the lower edge of the center telescoping member 21 is flanged inwardly as at 33 and is provided with a packing ring 315. The lower edge of the member 30 is flanged inwardly as at 35 and is provided with a packing ring 3%. Over the top of the base member 2 a plate 31 is provided and is secured thereto by means of the screws 38. The plate 31 also has an opening in the center thereof for the reception of the rod I2. It is also of a larger diameter than the top of the base 2 and extends outwardly beyond the edge thereof so that in elevated position the packing ring 36 is adapted to come against the lower outwardly extending edge of the plate 31. Fig. 3 shows these various telescoping members in substantially extended position while Fig. 4 discloses clearly their appearance when the table top is in its lowermost position.

In Figs. 6 and '7 I have disclosed a modified F form of my invention with regard to the stop means which hold the table top in any position to which it has been elevated. In this modification the same base member 2 is provided having a vertical opening 22) throughout the length thereof. In this form, however, the elongated opening 2b is provided with a vertical slot 39 which extends substantially throughout the length thereof. Throughout the length of said slot 39 at spaced apart intervals there is provided a plurality of downwardly extending branch slots 40 which extend around the opening 22) from the slot 39 downwardly therefrom for a distance of approximately In this form, the rod l2 has a close fit within the opening 2b and is provided with an outwardly extending peg or stop member M which is of substantially the same width as the slot 39 to permit it to slide throughout the length thereof. When the table top is to be elevated the stop member will pass upwardly in the slot 33 substantially to its desired height at which time it is guided in one of the branch slots All whereupon the table top is rotated through 90 while the stop member 4| travels the length of the slot 40 and comes to rest at the bottom thereof. When it is desired to lower the table, it is rotated back through a 90 angle to the position wherein the stop member 4! is again within the slot 39 at which position it may be freely raised or lowered to any desired position.

From the above explanation it will be evident that I have provided novel means to adjust the height of the table top from the floor on which the legs thereof are resting and for maintaining the top of the table at any height to which it has been adjusted. It is also evident that the invention may be used equally as well with tables having a solid top as with those of the extensible type.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be used instead of the ones here explained change being made as regards the elements and mechanism herein disclosed provided, however, that the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A table of the class described comprising, a support having a vertical opening therein, a member slidably and rotatably mounted in said opening, a top secured to said member, a tubular element secured to the lower end of said member, a plurality of spring actuated stops protruding into said opening and vertically spaced therein, said element adapted to rest on one of said stops to hold said top in an elevated position.

2. A table of the class described comprising, a support having a vertical opening therein, a member slidably mounted in said opening, a top located over said member and. connected thereto, a plurality of vertically spaced openings in said vertical opening, and a spring actuated stop member in each of said spaced openings having a portion thereof protruding into said vertical opening to cooperate with said member to support said top in any position to which elevated.

3. The combination of elements defined in claim 2, combined with additional means secured to the lower end of said member having its upper portion tapered to force said stop members away from said slidably mounted'member during the upward movement of said top.

4. The combination of elements defined in claim 2, combined with additional means secured to the lower end of said member having its upper portion tapered to force said stop members away from said slidably mounted member during the upward movement of said top, and tapered indentations on the lower portion of said means to force said stop members away from said slidably mounted member during the lowering of said top.

5. In a table of the class described, a vertical support having a longitudinal opening therein, a plate secured to the top of said support extending outwardly beyond the edges thereof and having an opening therein in alinement with the opening in said support, a member slidably received in said openings, a top located over said membe and secured thereto, and telescoping means' surrounding said member to cover it in extended position including an upper member secured to the top and a lower member having an inturned flange at its lower side to come against the extended edge of said plate in its raised position.

THURLOW E. McFALL. 

